"I'm very pleased to report that in the usual rush to complete pending business prior to adjournment, the U.S. House of Representatives completed action on one of my top legislative priorities, the Mt. Hood Stewardship Legacy Act which was approved on July 24.
This bill represents a tremendous amount of hard work by hundreds of Oregonians who found common ground on crucial issues concerning our state's greatest icon, Mt. Hood. Thanks are due to my colleague Congressman Greg Walden for working with me for more than three years to develop this legislation. Together, we enlisted citizen groups, environmental organizations, recreation advocates, public agencies, tribal representatives, and local governments to establish a long term, sustainable vision for the mountain and address the immediate challenges of wilderness protection, recreation, transportation, forest health, water quality, development, and Native American rights. Both Congressman Walden and I believe the Senate will take action to ensure that this bill can become law by the end of this year."
-Congressman Earl Blumenauer
It has been more than 20 years since Oregon added to its wilderness inventory on Mt. Hood, so I am pleased that this legislation provides a 40% increase over existing wilderness areas on the mountain. It also designates 25 new miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. But the bill goes beyond protecting public lands and waterways by taking a unique and comprehensive approach to a number of issues, charting the course for long term stewardship. It:
· Resolves a 30-year-old land management dispute in the Hood River Valley by encouraging development where infrastructure already exists and facilitating a land exchange that permanently protects the north side of Mt. Hood. This exchange is widely supported by environmental groups, private citizens, and business interests (for information and history of the exchange, see http://www.cooperspur.org/)
· Dedicates new funding for recreation and stakeholder involvement by making sure that Forest Service revenue generated on Mt. Hood stays on the mountain ; also creates a Recreational Working Group to advise the Forest Service on planning for future recreation enhancements.
· Establishes a plan for an integrated transportation network to safely and efficiently deliver people to and from Mt. Hood National Forest as well as from place to place on the mountain.
· Calls for a forest health assessment of areas at risk from fire and disease. These assessments will be implemented using existing authorities and projects that undergo environmental reviews and public notification.
· Encourages collaboration between the Forest Service and local communities on decisions that affect water quality and quantity.
· Requires the Forest Service to work with Native American Tribes to ensure healthy stands of huckleberries and other traditional plant species for the customary and traditional harvesting of First Foods.
· Encourages cooperation and partnerships among Mt. Hood's local communities, counties, the State, the Tribes, and federal agencies to identify common ground and coordinate planning efforts to create cooperative and lasting solutions.
An equally important aspect of this bill is its legacy of public process, which can serve as a model of public participation for other communities in protecting their natural treasures. Our legislation emerged from core principles and concepts developed from two major public summits, a 41-mile hike around the mountain, and long sessions with experts and stakeholders. We submitted these core principles and concepts for public review and comment at two town hall meetings last fall -- one in Portland and one in Hood River – then refined these principles into legislation that we introduced this spring. Following a House Resources Committee hearing on April 5, we again worked closely with stakeholders, the Forest Service, and colleagues from both parties to refine the language and clarify our intent. Throughout this exhaustive process, I believe we have preserved the integrity of ou r initial core concepts and principles and transformed them into sound public policy.
Our colleagues in the Senate now have the opportunity to build on this momentum and introduce a companion bill that the President can sign to relieve some of the pressures on Mt. Hood and set the course for its long term enjoyment and sustainable use. I urge them to take action this year and give Oregonians a holiday gift that will protect Mt. Hood for generations to come.
